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Outboard Tube Pre/DI

G

Groovehunter

Dec 3, 2004
83
0
#1
Guys n gals

can anyone here recommend me a outboard tube preamp in the form of a DI box? I've tried the sansamp and liked it but it still wasn't quite right. I play in a heavy rock metal band for what it's worth.

I want something that either has a tube sound or emulates a tube - just a feature that will provide a good growl. The sound has to be top notch as I will be using it to record with direct in the house straight to my multi tracker. NB It has to be in 'stomp' form as I will be travelling with this and it will be a good recording tool/live tool.

If anyone can suggest another good pre that doesn't have a tube then fire away. Bearing in mind I like the sansamp so I want something along similar lines. Not really down with the MXRm80, want something a little different.

If anyone can help I'd appreciate it

Cheers

Groove
 
#4
Cheers guys those links are cool. I was thinking more along the lines of a tweakable 3 band with it if there's such an option? Failing that keep the recommendations and tips coming.

I'm just looking for a great pre which gives a nice tube growl with the added 3eq options or whatnot. Something you can slip into a gig bag and use as a DI as well as a recording tool.
 
#6
hmmm...the valve drive certainly looks appealing. Seems to have features I've been looking for. Is there any other option which offers a similar take on thing? Can any valvedrive users chip in here with their opinions on this item?
 
#9
Don't get tied up with the concept of "tube sound", and focus on growl if that is what you are going for. A lot of tube designs are super clean.

Before you drop too much money on on extra stuff, one thing to keep in mind is that the sansamp bass driver responds very well to guitar pedal in front of it. Take a look at various guitar pedals to see if that gets you closer to what you are looking for. A little bit of growl from the SansAmp plus some more from a pedal may be just the thing and cost you about 30 bucks.
 
#10
Yeah I'm not too concerned with a clean tube sound, I'm looking for growl - mainly a clear driving warm focussed growl. My set up initially was a bddi followed by a barber ltd silver edition. I found the sound to be better to my ears with the barber od after the bddi in the signal chain. I sold the bddi as I'd convinced myself that I didn't need it, but in hindsight it did serve my signal chain pretty darn well as well as the various other functions it provided. FWIW my signal chain was as follows:

spector euro lx>Art levelar comp> bddi > barber ltd>markbass rig

I was thinking about the tech21 pddi instead which would help with some of the mid drop off that you get with the regular bddi, but I'd like to hear from someone who can offer their personal experience with the box.
 

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